Imagine riding horseback through the jungles of Costa Rica, down ancient roads lined with fields of lavender in Provence, or across the wide open plains of Wyoming, and ending your day in a cozy inn to enjoy a delicious dinner and a well-deserved glass of wine. This is no ordinary lying-by-the-pool vacation; this is equitrekking.
A Coast Ride in Costa Rica, photo from Equitrekking
I had heard about inn-to-inn riding trips years ago, and was surprised to find that there is a wonderful ongoing PBS travel show dedicated to this very thing. I realize that this may be out of the comfort-zone for some of you, but keep in mind that equestrian travel can actually be quite family-friendly. Preteens often pick up riding skills quickly (more quickly than adults 
), and this can be a wonderful, memorable trip to take with your family if you have teens.
Tent Camp in India, photo from Princess Trails
There are equitrekking vacations in just about every country on the planet – from England, Ireland and Spain, to India, Nepal and Chile – to name a few. You can make trekking the main event, or just try it for a few days in the middle of a longer trip.
Self-Guided Ride in France, photo from Equitours
By horseback, you can cover more ground than by foot – and have more fun, if I do say so myself! For the more adventurous and experienced riders, you have the option of taking a self-guided trek: You are given a horse, a picnic lunch, maps and a compass, and find your own way to the next inn or castle where a hot dinner will be waiting for you.
View from the Trail, Wyoming, photo from Equitrekking
The resources I found to be most helpful if you ever decide to plan an equestrian trip are the Travel Search from the PBS show website, and Equitours, which is a company that has been organizing riding trips for the past 30 years in many countries around the world. Happy trails!
Related posts:
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I came across your site through Decor8 and love it! We have these kinds of equitrekking trips here in Morocco too. My daughter has been begging me to take her on one and I keep telling her she has to be bigger (she’s only 8 and just learning how to ride!) Best wishes from Morocco!
Tina
Travelingmama’s last blog post..feed the {birds}